Electric switch, fuse, and protector therefor.



E. CHARPIER.

ELECTRIC SWITCH, FUSE, AND PROTECTOR THEREFOR. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 13. 1914.

Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

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EDWARD CHARPIER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC SWITCH,. FUSE, AND PROTECTOR THEREFOR.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

Application filed February 13, 1914. Serial No. 818,444.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, EDWARD CfEfARPIER, a citizen of the .United States, residing at the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and Stateof Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, Fuses, and Protectors Therefor, of which the following is' a specification.

The invention relates to; animprovement in electric switches, fuses, and. protectors therefor, being particularly directed to adevice of this character adapted to be arranged intermediate the service mains and branch cuit, as required, the switch'element proper being adapted to be locked in open relation to prevent unauthorized closing of the circuit.

The invention in the preferred form of details will be described in the following specification, reference beinghad particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan View of the switch, fuse, and protector, constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the cover of the casing removed. Fig. 3 is an enlarged broken sectional view illustrating one of the main set of contacts, and the adjacent fuse carrier. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the wiring ofthe device.

In the accompanying drawings, the improved device is shown to include a casing 1 having side and end walls and a cover 2 adapted to snugly fit the same, the upper edges of the side and end walls of the casing being provided with staples 8 to pass through openings 4 in the cover, the proj ecting portions of the staples receiving sealing strips 5, whereby to lock the cover against unauthorized removal.

Projecting from one of the side walls of the casing is an insulating block 6, formed to provide for the connectionsof the service mains and branch wires thereto. The block s shown in the present instance as providlng for the usual three such mains, the space contacts being the same in each instance. The contacts include vertically alined bindings posts 7 arranged on the respective upper and lower surfaces of the block, one of the service mains 8 being connected to the upper post and one of the branch conductors, 9, connected to the lower post. Secured to the respective binding posts are spaced contact plates 10 and 11, which plates extend beyond the proximate edge of the block.

As previously stated, there are three such sets of contacts, and three fuse carriers are illustrated as cooperating therewith, one fuse carrier for each set of contacts. Each. fuse carrier, it being understood that all are identical, includes a shaft 12 rotatably mounted in an insulating block 13 supported on the bottom of the casing, said shaft being provided at an appropriate point in its length with a drum or cylindrical casing 11.

.The upper and lower edges of the drum,

which is preferably of porcelain or similar insulating material, are provided with contact posts 15 and 16, which include laterally projected spring contact strips 17 and 18. The respective vertically alined contact posts 15 and 16 are connected by fuse strips three pole switch 20 to thefixed contacts 21 of which are connected conductors 22 leading to the house or other service through the usual meters 23. The movable contacts 24 of the switch are in circuit with the branch conductors 9 leading from the main contacts. It is designed, as part of the present invention, to lock this switch in open relation when desired, and for this purpose I mount in the bottom of the casing a shaft 25 having a slotted arm 26 to engage a pin 27 projecting from the cross bar joining all of the switch.

Both the shaft 25, and the shafts 12 explates or movable contacts of the tend through openings in the top of the easing, being beyond said top of angular form in cross section, as shown, whereby to receive an operating wrench, as 28. The upper end of each shaft 12 is provided with a cam plate 29, the edge depressions of which are adapted to cooperate with appropriately formed terminals 31 of spring strips 82, projecting from an abutment or block 33 secured on the casing cover, whereby the drums are held in proper circuit closing relation by the spring elements.

The upper end of the shaft 25 is also of angular formation in cross section and a hasp member 3% is formed with a socket end to fit the .angular end of the shaft, said hasp member being formed with an opening adapted to .register with a similar opening in a projection 35, rising from the cover, the registering openings receiving a padlock 36, to lock the shaft 25 against movement.

' The edge of the casing is formed with a conduit projection 37 through which the mains 8 enter the casing, a similar conduit projection 38 being provided for the passage of the conductors 22 intermediate the switch and meters. I also prefer to arrange a housing 39 on the side wall of the casing about the conduit 38 and form said housing with a curved recess 40 to receive the meter.

From the above description, it will be apparent that when desired a new fuse strip may be introduced into any connection between the service and branch conductors, this operation being simply and readily accomplished by the rotation of the particular fuse carrier through actuation of the Wrench. From the drawings, it will be apparent that the lock 36 holds the switch 20 in open condition, but that when it is desired to close the switch to establish the connection, the pad-lock may be removed, the hasp 3% lifted from the shaft 25, and the wrench 28 applied thereto to close the switch.

The device provides a combined switch, fuse carrier and protector in a single casing, which may remain closed until necessary to remove the fuses, while at the same time permitting the introduction of new fuse strips into the service, and the locking of the parts against unauthorized operation.

\Vhat is claimed is i A combined switch fuse and protector comprising a casing, conductors therein, an insulating block supported in the casing, spring strips forming the terminals of the respective conductors and secured in spaced relation to said block, each of said strips including two normally spaced sections, a member rotatably mounted within the casing adjacent the block, independent strips carried by said member to fit between the sections of the respective strips, fuses connecting said last mentioned strips, a block carried by and movable with said member, said block being arranged beyond the easing and formed with a notch for each fuse line of the member, each fuse having a notch in alinement therewith, and means secured upon the casing to cooperate with the notches to temporarily restrain the movement of the member in connected relation.

EDWARD CI-IARPIER.

lVitnesses CHAS. G. TILLMAN, R. E. Fnnouson. 

